Grade: Grade 2 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Paragraph Writing SAT: ExpressionOfIdeas ACT: Writing

Text Practice

Learn

In this lesson, you will practice reading paragraphs and finding their parts. When you read a paragraph, look for:

  • The topic sentence - tells you what the paragraph is about (usually the first sentence)
  • Supporting sentences - give details, facts, or examples about the topic
  • The closing sentence - wraps up the paragraph (sometimes repeats the main idea)

Good readers can spot these parts quickly. This helps you understand what you read better!

Remember:

All the sentences in a paragraph should be about ONE main idea. If a sentence does not fit, it does not belong in that paragraph.

Examples

Read this paragraph and see how we find each part:

"Dogs make great pets. They are loyal and love to play with you. Dogs can learn tricks like sit and shake. They also protect your home. Dogs are wonderful friends to have."

  • Topic sentence: "Dogs make great pets." (tells us the main idea)
  • Supporting sentences: The middle sentences give reasons why dogs are great
  • Closing sentence: "Dogs are wonderful friends to have." (wraps it up)

Another Example

"Spring is my favorite season. The flowers start to bloom in many colors. Birds come back and sing pretty songs. I can play outside without a heavy coat. Spring makes me feel happy."

  • Topic sentence: "Spring is my favorite season."
  • Supporting sentences: Flowers bloom, birds sing, playing outside
  • Closing sentence: "Spring makes me feel happy."

Practice

Read each paragraph and answer the questions. Try your best!

Practice 1

"The library is a great place to visit. You can find books about any topic you like. There are comfy chairs for reading. The librarian helps you find what you need. I love spending time at the library."

Question: What is the topic sentence?

Hint: Look at the first sentence. What is the main idea?

Practice 2

"Frogs are interesting animals. They start life as tadpoles in the water. Frogs have long back legs for jumping. They eat bugs with their sticky tongues. Frogs are fun to learn about."

Question: How many supporting sentences are there?

Hint: Count the sentences that give details about frogs (not the first or last sentence).

Practice 3

"Brushing your teeth is important. It keeps your teeth clean and white. Brushing stops cavities from forming. You should brush in the morning and at night. Taking care of your teeth keeps you healthy."

Question: What is the closing sentence?

Hint: Look at the last sentence. Does it wrap up the main idea?

Practice 4

"Pizza is a yummy food. It has cheese on top that gets melty. You can add toppings like pepperoni. My dog likes to play fetch. Pizza is great for dinner or parties."

Question: Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?

Hint: Find the sentence that is not about pizza.

Practice 5

"Butterflies are beautiful insects. They have colorful wings with pretty patterns. Butterflies drink nectar from flowers. They start as caterpillars before they change. Butterflies brighten up gardens everywhere."

Question: List two details from the supporting sentences.

Practice 6

"Riding a bike is fun. You can go fast down hills. Biking is good exercise for your body. Always wear a helmet to stay safe. Riding bikes is a great way to have fun outside."

Question: What is this paragraph mostly about?

Practice 7

"Apples are a healthy snack. They are crunchy and sweet. Apples give you energy to play. You can eat them whole or sliced. Apples are good for you."

Question: Does the closing sentence fit with the topic? Why or why not?

Practice 8

"My grandma is special to me. She bakes cookies when I visit. Grandma reads me stories at bedtime. She gives the best hugs. I love my grandma very much."

Question: What makes this a good paragraph? Name two things.

Practice 9

Read these two sentences:

"Cats are soft and cuddly. Fish live in water."

Question: Could these two sentences be in the same paragraph? Why or why not?

Practice 10

"The beach is a fun place to go. You can build sandcastles by the water. The waves are fun to splash in. Seashells wash up on the shore. _______________"

Question: Write a good closing sentence for this paragraph.

Check Your Understanding

Answer these questions to see what you learned:

  1. Where do you usually find the topic sentence in a paragraph?
  2. What do supporting sentences do?
  3. How can you tell if a sentence does not belong in a paragraph?

Next Steps

  • Practice finding paragraph parts when you read books at home
  • Try reading a paragraph to a family member and pointing out the parts
  • Move on to the next lesson to write your own paragraphs